Oil-refining foldable pack



lNQV. 16, 1948. A R wHlTE OIL REFINING FOLDABLE PACK 3 Sheets-Sheet lFiled Aug'. 22, 1944 INVENTOR.

ALBERT R. WHITE BY M] Ml 'EW/fum Nov. 16, 1948. A. R. WHITE OIL REFININGFOLDABLE PACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1944 /A A f8.7/ .ff/r z.5.... ........:....v... I /WMWMMWMMVOW///W INVENTOR. ALBERT R. WHITE BY-Kaw-P.

ATTORNEYS Nov. 16, 194s.

l A. R. wHn-E OIL REFINING' FOLDABLE PACK Filed Aug. 22, 1944 ssheets-sheet s IN VEN TOR.

ALBERT R WFH-ra Al IORNEYS Patented Nov. 16, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENTGFFICE OIL-REFINING FOLDABLE PACK Albert R. White, Glendale, Calif.

Application August 22, 1944, Serial No.1550,612

1 Claim.

the casing opening to be of a diameter equal tothe diameter of thecasing interior..` If the roil rener pack is constructed With a exiblecore rather than with a rigid one, it is possible to make the casingopening smaller and make the pack diameter equal toor even less than thecasing opening. The pack can be fed into the casing and folded or coiledinto place so as to ll vany proportion of the casing interior desired.The foldability or ilexibility of the pack not only adapts it to fill acasing which has a diameter larger than the diameter of the casingopening, but the pack may be placed in casings or containers havingirregular shapes and sizes. For example, the container or housing may becurved, or one portion of the housing may be larger than another.

By providing an oil refining pack which is foldable or flexible I amable to make use of the usual oil tank or sump used in airplanes andcause it to perform an additional function of cleaning the oil in thetank. The tank becomes the casing for the pack and this does awayWithproviding an extra casing and thus saves Weight. Also the use of anairplane oil tank vfor housing the pack instead of using a separatecasing will obviate the need of holding down brackets, bolts, nuts,ttings, and extra oil lines for the oil renner. An oil rener pack andcasing is a necessity for an airplane to keep the oil clean, but whereweight is at a premium, a renner has frequently not been used. Byemploying the oil tank as the container for the foldable pack, theextra, weight necessary for'rening the oil is reduced to a small pointbecause the pack itself is light in weight. The cover for the airplaneoil tank is smaller in diameter than the tank, and the foldable oilrefining pack can be threaded through the tank opening and placed in thetank in a spiral or any other fashion. The tank may be filled to anydesired extent with the pack. The tank and pack therefore perform thedouble function of holding the oil and cleaning the oil. A by-pass isused with the oil renner pack to permit the oil to flow freely throughthe tank should the pack become clogged for any reason.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a foldableoil renner pack in which a flexible central sustaining member has adensity less than that of the pack proper and therefore the member actsas an oil conduit..

ing purpose and t'o t any container of any ysize and shape. The packprovides the maximum amount of surfacearea compatible withthe highesteiiiciency in depth of ltering material for any given diameter andlength of filtering element; The invention is simple in construction.

Other objects and advantages will appear 'in the `followingspecification, and the novel feaout in the appended claim.

tures of tnedevice will rbe particularly pointed My invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings forming apart ofathisapplication,

inWhi-ch: i

Figure lis a side elevation of the foldable pack and illustrates itsattachment in an'toil tank; :v

Figure 2 isa longitudinal section through-the foldablepack, portionsbeing'shown in elevation.`

foldable pack placed" Figure 3 illustrates the in an oil tank or sump;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of amodied' form of the invention,portions'being shown in i elevation;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through` another modified form of theinvention, portions being shown in elevation for clarity;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through still another modied form ofthe invention; and

Figure'l is a transverse section taken alongv the line 1 1 of Figure 6.

While I have shown only the preferred forms 1 of my invention, it shouldbe understood 'that i various changes or modifications maybe made withinthe scope of i the appended claim without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

pack.

Oil tank tank or container, indicated generally at A, and this containermay be of any shapeor size desired. One type of container is illustratedin Figure 3 and is` in reality a tankjor sump used in anv airplaneforholding lubricating oil. I do not wish to be confined totheparticular type f cating therewith and the oil outlet pipe 2 that isnormally used is closed by means of a plug 3. The container has a cover4 of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the container or tank andthe cover has one end of my foldable oil refining pack, indicatedgenerally at B, attached thereto and communicating with an oil outletpipe4 The-.ii length and the diameter of the pack may be changed toaccomplish any particular oil clean-.

Iwill rstdescribef the oil tank and then the In carrying out myvinvention I provide an oil 3 5. The pipe leads to the engine or otherparts thau --.,ed oiling and conveys the refined oil thereto while thepipe I conveys the used oil from the engine and otherfparts yto-thetankflforistoring and cleaning purposes:v

Oz'l refining foldable pack:

It is best now to describe the construction'.v of, the oil refining packB. The pack is shown in 1U spring, shown in Figure 2, or in any otherform.

I have shown two modified forms such as a'rol'ledf screen at 6a inFigure 4 and a perforated flexible conditbfinigure. 'Thezmodiedfformsoff thepaclmsh'own iniFigures '.4 iand 5 fdiffer'slightly7 f from'zthe:.form vshown. in.Fig`ures-1. and:2,'and,:1 will 'describetheni moreinfdetail hereinafter;

4 The pack I3 that surrounds the flexible core formed of the spring,screen, cloth and sponge may be made of any oil filtering and oilcleaning mater-iaLdesired. I prefer .touse a material 5 known as wastefor thefbodyofthe pack. The

thespringf; willc'onvey the renedand filtered/ oil" therealong. y Ifthe'passagefis formed from f a i* cor-iductingv materiali the materiallmust be .less` The: flexible corezcomposed'. ofI the coilrsprirxg:Uridnselthan i-,hatrfrmjng the pack 6 hasione end inserted imanpoutletzpipe Fand# A thespring .'issecuredinplace byanysu-itable fassteningmeans such as.- byy nails `8-that-are'fpassed'f.` throughtheLpipe'fandscreen'and extendxatfright anglesfto' each'. other.;seecFigure2; ;.Around:the 25am-,ing wfthams-wrapped aroundthpackattache:

spring I: dispose--` aA screenfSrandth-e screen may consisttofone'ormore layers:Y 'I'h'escreen iswheld'.:I in place on the springbyaclotlicasingf IUthats. alsoV actsfa as; f anffoilf `filtering:medium: i Figure 2 screen 'beingnattened asszndicated: Thefcloth casing:.I uncovers fthe .entirealength of t thevscreenf 'e 9 Aar'idhasrits,free-end. pressed"A flat so: as: toiconitl'i'e.- clothrf'IIIrIfdi'sposeone orxmorei layersrrofa vegetable sponge such as a lcoiah: sporrga` Ibandi.' the sponge-'extends fthrough'out'fith lengthaoffthe fabricvIII-Thepurpo'sesof .thespongevis to abe,

sorb water from the oil without absorbing-.soilsl 4 ency of the foil`tov.flovwalongfthe outer:surface of '5mg the pipe 'I toward thescreenis preventedby` thezheavystringzwinding fl 2;'and`the1astr-ing4 willact'asr an .-oil'fdeector-"for: directing? the'i oilI :into the body I3of the pack. Any oil that does seep",

The heavy string winding-.121 nntp-:only: "452:

end, vthestring 'preferably being: wrapped'faround" the `-packthroughout" its' length 1 inl'orderj to i holdi theJ'abri'cl casing? I5rin'v place-while perrnittiliig#v 4 the* pack'f to :bei folded. Figure'`1 illustrates@ theA1 illustratesthe :screen9'extendingfbeyondtthe"freet fagsting IBas'beingwrappedaroundthe.fige-.errd; end of the spring 6, the proJecting portionfOfi'lhHl of the-packforholdingithemateiiall'iin place."`

Thefabric casing I5 hasf its other vend broughtif' tightly aroundthe-,pipe rI" and' secured" inplace f by=the same stringfIG' In'i'thisWayrthe packris' taCtthHattenedfportion of 'the A'screens c Around:,'snsecredto: thpipe-T and yetfthe pack, is flexible;

position finl a' container:

The particular mea-ns'ffor securing thepipe If tothe cover1 4 o fthetank Aisillustrated in Figholds'anasbe'stoswasher I8 against theunderside. of the tank `cover V4. thiougnan opening` I Slinithe cover'and receives .a

second"Y asbestos washer 20"that be'ars against. 'the outcr'side .of thecover.

moved onto the `pipe Ifand'bearsagainst the,as...

as ,at 22a.:andthe ring 2I. is. made-of 'a metal soft through the heavystring-winding will be filtered 5Menough to have a portion thereof.forcedinto the and.cleaned.before treaches ,the coil spring.

The opposite .i end-of :the .coil springsfrom. the4 v piped is.enclosed-bythe; screen r9, the-fabric Ill';` andithe-loofah sponge I I,alhof theselelements ex-f tending.. beyond theend ofthe-spring-.and-being.; vmy.

into the?. end vof 'th-eicentral.l passage; forrn'ed...by.' therspring;intoztherbody of the pack: I 3,4 .andathisz' prevents rthe immediateentrance of "the oil'fintov the` central" oilY passageiprior =to.=itsbeng-fltered` upztheheavystringfrwinding= I4 Y andI the same :istrriesof'theaheavyrstring Winding. I2. 'Thewind-v ings Izlanddidcanberegarded fas flexible oil-Jd'e-i Y ctors e and;` 'asa securing means forholding"` the f1 pazftlsf. together: 1

groove for-aidingain`lmaking alliquid-tight seal. betweentheipackiandrthe'icoverl The.-oil outlet pipeI 5s; connects-I with the isleeve.- 22; thus` corn-vv municatingf: withy f the pack -Bf.

I providea-.bypass-valve C ffor the'pipel; see Figurewl; The, bypassfunctions automatically in* caseathe-Ip ackafbecomess clogged;` When"theby@E passfisopengdirect communication-is established:

betweemther tankzinteriorrand outlet pipe 5.`

ball'va'lver'28xf'f. Th'e-ball is keptseatd'"againstthe'- and rened; Anumber ofrlayerg ofrstrmgrmak'ef 70-seat-e29rinfth'escasinguntilthezpressure'of'oil inw the tank iAreaclesfapoint-sufliientrto'unseat the ball=`283andf-compress'the spring' 21."The' valve body?.l 26Ihfs^ a'. plurality# of 'f openings i 30T thereinThe pipe. 'I extends- A metal ring. 2 I is4 the nipple 24 with respectJto the casing 26 and in this way the Valve may be adjusted to open atany predetermined pressure.

Operation From the foregoing description of the various parts of thedevice, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

The container A, illustrated in Figure 3, `can be partially lled orentirely filled with the oil refining pack B. The diameter of the packis made less than the diameter of the opening 3| in the container sothat the pack can be fed through the container opening and coiled withinthe container as indicated. By using a flexible pack the container canbe filled by the pack to any desired extent, even though the containerdiameter is larger than the cover diameter. I do not Wish to be confinedto the particular type of container illustrated since the container canassume various shapes and sizes. In fact the filtering element B isdesigned to be placed inside a housing of irregular shape. On the otherhand the pack may be of a given size to t a standard oil refining casingthat has an opening of the same size as the diameter of the container.The housings may be of various dimensions and the pack can be made ofthe required length and diameter to provide the proper amount offiltering material for the oil in the tank. The oil rening element B istherefore of a universal type since it may be inserted into housings ofany dimension and contour and fill it partially or completely. In thisrespect the pack has a decided advantage over the rigid type packbecause it can be fed into a container where the opening is not of thesame diameter as the interior diameter of the container.

In use in airplanes the foldable pack has extreme practicability becausethe airplane oil tank may constitute the casing for the pack as well asthe reservoir for oil. The only additional weight added to the airplanewhen adapting it to clean the oil is the weight of the packitself. Thepack is constructed from porous material which will become saturatedwith oil when in use and therefore the intrinsic weight of the pack isvery slight. The pack does not displace much oil when saturated, so thetankl need not be enlarged when using the pack. The tank A when suppliedwith a pack performs a double function of acting as an oil supply andalso acting as an oil cleaner and renner. A tank can only function inthis manner when a flexible pack is used because the tank opening is sosmall in comparison to the tank diameter that a long pack must be usedand the pack must be flexible and foldable in order to be fed into thetank.

In actual operation, the oil will be pumped into the tank A through thepipe I and will fill it. The oil will be forced through the pack body I3for cleaning it. Foreign substances will be retained by the pack body.The loofah sponge 6 will remove the water from the oil and the fabriccasing I and the screen 9 will form a exible and porous wall for thecentral passage of the pack. The spring keeps the fabric ID and screen 9in cylindrical form to provide an oil passageway. The oil passageway isiiexible and has a density less than the density of the pack body I3. Ofco-urse the density of the passage is nil when it has no materialtherein. The cleaned oil once entering the central passage will flowtherealong because it requires less force to move through the passagethan through the pack body. The refined oil f extend atrightangles toeach other.

passes through-the pipe 1 and into the return pipe 5.

Should the pack become clogged *forl any reason spring 2. The ball 28will be unseated by the increased oil pressure and the bypass C will.permit the oil to flow directly into the pipe 1. The bypass prevents thetank A from being subjected to too great a pressure and permits the oilto continue to flow out through the pipe 5 should the pack becomeclogged for any reason and cease to function.

In Figure 4, I show a slightly modified form of pack BI. A rolled screen6a takes the place of the spring S and the fabric Illa, is wrappedaround the screen to hold it in place. The screen 6a has one endinserted into the pipe l, which end is held in place by the nails 8. Allother parts of" the pack are identical to that explained for the pack B;therefore further description need not be given. Like reference numeralswill be applied to similar parts,

This flexible pack BI will function in the same manner as the pack Bshown in Figures 1 and 2. The screen 6a will forma central passagewayhaving a density less than that of the pack body I3. If desired thescreen 6a canpartially fill the central passage without yimpecling theflow of oil through the passage because the oil can ow readily throughthe screen meshes. On the other hand the screenv is preferably l rolled`into al cylinder that forms a central passage Which'is free from anyobstruction. The rolled screen 6a is flexible and supports the packbodyl3, loofah sponge II and fabric Ia.

Another modified form'of pack B2 is illustrated in Figure 5. Here thecentralpassage of the pack is formed by a flexible conduit Bbl that hasopenings 32 formed therein. A screen 9 covers the conduit and is in turncoveredby the fabric I0. The flexible conduit Bb has-one end inserted inthe pipel which is secured in place by nails 8 that y The flexible'conduit acts Vas a flexible central sustaining member for the pack body.All other parts of the pack" are identical kto those described andillustratedin' Figure 2. Like reference numerals will be applied tosimilar parts and further description need notbe given In neitherFigures 4 or 5 do I show the free end of the pack as I do in Figure 2.In both modified forms of pack BI and B2, the central conduits areflattened at their free ends and so also are the screen; fabric andsponge. Heavy absorbent twine is Awramoedaroundthe `iiattened portionsinthe sameV manner vas I haveindicated in Figure 2. In fact, thefreevends'of the forms of the packs BI and B2are the same as that shown inFigure2 except that inthe pack BI, the screen 6a takes the ,place ofthespring 6 and in the other pack B2, the flexible conduit 6b takes theplace of the spring 6- A modified form of pack BI or B2 may be placed inthe tankA or in anyv other container and function inthe same manner asthat set forth for the'pack B.

Although the oil may now in a reverse direction through the packs, I donot advocate such use because the internal pressure will have a tendencyto burst the pack and the binding I6 would need to be made stronger. Thevital point is the provision of a flexible central sustaining member forthe pack body with an oil passageway in the pack body of less densitythan the body proper. Such armena:

aepack: can beeinserted inzlcontainerswon everyr';

conceivable shape and size. A portion of the high pressure roil.lsystemgfor. a machine :or :engi-ne l,can constitute., the Vcasing for-theriexible and foldable pack. v Very 'little radditiona-l weight isadded Y when usingthe pack'fina part ofthe oiling system and' no.:additional-space.: is` required-i -Irrz Figures 61 and' 7:1 showanotherfmodied" form of pack wheres an :alkali'has` been added to therpacl-cylrzody` to' keep;theoil neutral las well ,as to cleanse theoil-aswit flows though the pack. The I oiliatrthel renery:isLneutralized asto .acidity'by f adxlingzan'alkali; Theroilnto-be-neutralshould have a pH value of 1. When oil is used in an engineritzbecomes"acid in1reaction because thej'acid isaformed asa product of: combustion.Thexoil atuthe'stop,l of .the -cyclinders-I and the motori -uel burnedinthecylinderszform: acids: which draw in down aroundlthepistonwallsand'nd their `way intothebody'offoil. The moisture resulting :fromcondensation:orV from leaky: gaskets enters.` the crankucasei andYthrough agitation `mixes vwith the acidsoin; the oil Vto form alsulphurous acid which f has a corrosive effect on the metal.

Long-.1 use; of 1 ,the s automobile; or tractor.r engine fortenctl'iousand:to twenty ,thousand miles causesA anacidityof thefioilwhich'wherrcornbinedV with themoi'sture:might'hairm `the engine.- It istherefore apart ofimyinventionfto provide a pack with anfalkalksorthatrthefpack will; not only keep the oiizvi'sua'lly., cleanbutwill'also neutralize the acid content'iof the; oil;` The alkali-usedforthis purposfmaybe sodium carbonate, potassium carbonatevor any alkalihaving the ability-to neutralize,-

1Q. 'midd1ethird, disclosed 'in Figure 6. For example,

'7 is thesame as .-thatfshownin Figure@ and-thereff.y fore: furtherdescription need not ,fbe given. andil corresponding parts will beogivenlike-reference` numerals.

I do not wish to b'econnd to the layer 5U taking up the. middle third ofthe cellulosic body since the .pack body: might be treated throughoutwith' an alkali or be partiallytreated andthe treated portion be. insome otherposition than the the alkali jtreated layer may be on. theoutside of the pack or inthe Very inside of they pack'. YIt' could 'beplaced at the.top or at the hottom'ofl the pack.. A1I.'.`of,thesevarious modifications are. gdemedtocome Within the scope of theappended,

claim.

I claim: vA 4i'luid iilt'ering pack having a ilexible hollow4 coreacting as. a fluidtpassageway, a pipe comqgmunicating Awith"oneend ofthe core, flexible screeningu means .enclosing the core, a layer ofsponge enclosing `said,L screening means, a uid absorbent` cord/wrappedaround the. screening,

means, sponge. and pipe` for connecting them to.

Soggether, a second fluid absorbentcord Wrapped around ,the freeendofthe screening means and sponge to close the free end of.the core, a'flexible` aCiditylin-oi-ls. 'In fatfany alkali having the'abi1xcasing,enclosingthe entire. pack assembly, said ity? toneutralizefacidsin anzoil comesfwithin the scope of my invention.

Apaclezwhen used for cleaning oilbecomes contaminated'withforeign matterafter a time.` It

is :thereforernecessaryjthat the pack be renewed? from time1to'time. Thealkali'in. thepack will neutralize: the: acidfconditionr'of' the =oiland as. theipackfbecomesfolder; the alkali willz'be used uprsothatracidtyiof-the oil will rise; I'prevent this'acidity from reachingdangerous'proportionsA 45 .Number byrrenewing .tlfierpack. :and fthenew" pack `will have sufcient' alkali therein -forry neutralizingthefoil;

Theipacks'vpfer-form the dual function of removing contaminants'r. fromthe oi-l and` keeping the Y oil Diesel: engines"fform--acid' oil moreY50#` quickly than engines using.- gaso1ine-as `a motor' neutral-.

Strongly? basic, materials, such asf sodium hydroxide'xorf potassiumhydroxide cannot; be used asf'anr'alkali` inthe 'pack' becausenthevchemicals are 4-too.- caustic: in' nature 'and would: evenl inj ureYthe'vcellulosic-'portions` othe pack.-v Referring-to Eiguress' and? itwill be noted that therpack structure B3 is the lsame as that'shown inFigure:- 21except'that an-alkali treatedstrip 50 -forms aparttofthe'body-I 3 of the pack. The striporflayer Sleis :formed finto yacylindricaleportion and takes up: approximately the;middle third'of thecellulosict-packffabric.

the7 alkali solution orvbyplacing the` alkali in crystalline form in thelayer. In all .otherrespects thestructureof the pack shown in Figures 6.and

` Theflayerf-SU.` maybe impreg nated `with ythealkali by saturatingA thelayer with 40h. The following references are of' record "in the le ofthis patentz UNITED STATES PATENTS-y Name Date 47,261 Simmons'y Aprf.11,"1865' 925,258` Winston-et al June 15, 1909 1,0153166 Adams et a1Jan; 23, 1912 '1,'4892519 Chateau Apr. 8, 1924 1,791,046' SWeetland Feb.3,' 1931 1,-8475817 Cole Mar. 1, 1932 1,996,469 Frolander Apr. 2, 1935'2,064,097 White Dec. 15, 1936* 2,079l366 Thomas May 4, 1937 2,243,296Sweetland May 27, 1941 *21,250,299* Downing' July 22, 19414 2,274,113White Feb. 23,` i'sTz'y 2,3201990 White June 8; 1943l I2,343,427 Wellset'alf Mar. '7, 1944"' FOREIGNv "PATENTS Number Country Date 2,799Switzerland Nov. 4,' 18901. 101,151 Y Australia .May 25, 1937" 234,151.A France Nov. 13, 1893. 549,086. Germany Apr.` 22, `1932 605,915`Germany Nov. .20, 1934 606,026. Germany Nov. 23,'19341

